STACK #163 May 2018

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA, DVDs, GAMES & MUSIC

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ISSUE 163 May ’18

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THE SHAPE OF WATER • FIFTY SHADES FREED

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Contributors

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & DVD Editor Scott Hocking

Music Editor Zoë Radas Staff Writer Alesha Kolbe

Issue 163 MAY 2018

Creative Director Michelle Black DVD Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Andre Eivik Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones , Gill Pringle Contributors Amy Flower, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Jonathan Alley, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Adam Colby, Tim Lambert, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Gage Pendergast Social Media Manager Sally Carlier-Hull Production Manager Craig Patterson

WELCOME In 1927, The Jazz Singer was released in the US. It was a watershed moment in movie history. Whilst the film wasn’t the first to incorporate the spoken word, it was the first commercial feature-length Hollywood release to introduce not just talking but singing to a synchronised soundtrack. Ushering in the ‘talkie’, a step that would signal the end of Hollywood’s golden silent era, The Jazz Singer can also be regarded as the first movie musical. Throughout the ‘30s, ‘40s ‘50s and even the ‘60s, musicals proved to be exceptionally popular with cinema audiences, showcasing a vast array of singing and dancing talent on the silver screen. However, aside from Disney animated productions, interest in musicals waned over the next three decades; Hollywood were reluctant to take a gamble on an ‘old fashioned’ genre. In 2001, Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! introduced the musical to a new generation, but it was Damien Chazelle’s 2016 Oscar-winner La La Land that put the genre firmly back in the spotlight. This month, The Greatest Showman – based on the life of circus promoter P.T. Barnum and starring the world’s most popular Australian, Hugh Jackman – arrives in time to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift. And if musicals don’t appeal to mum, 2018 Oscar-winners The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri also land on the shelves at JB in May. What a month! Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

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Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2018 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

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Issue 163 MAY 2018

Extras Pages 8 / 10-11 / 24-25

Music Pages 1 – 33

Games Pages 45 - 66

Cinema Pages 14 – 20

DVD & BD Pages 26 – 44

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA,DVDs, GAMES&MUSIC

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA,DVDs, GAMES&MUSIC

14-15 AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR STACK was surrounded by MCU heroes when we caught up with the cast of Marvel’s biggest movie to date. 16 DEADPOOL 2 We’re only weeks away from the Deadpool sequel and not really any the wiser. What will the Merc with a Mouth have in store for us this time? 18-20 REVIEWS Breath, Rampage, Truth or Dare, Isle of Dogs, A Quiet Place

26-27 THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Director Michael Gracey on meeting Hugh Jackman, casting Zendaya, and the film’s eight-year journey to the screen. 28-29 THE SHAPE OF WATER Seasoned creature performer Doug Jones talks about his latest collaboration with Guillermo del Toro. 30 FIFTY SHADES FREED As the curtain falls on the racy trilogy, we take a look at what’s in store for newlyweds Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. 32 THAT’S NOT MY DOG! The dying art of telling a great joke inspired Shane Jacobson to make a film that’s nothing but gags. 34 GUILLERMO DEL TORO In the wake of his Oscar-winning triumph with The Shape of Water , we profile the Mexican auteur. 36-39 REVIEWS The Greatest Showman, The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, I, Tonya, Phantom Thread, Molly’s Game, The Commuter, Den of Thieves, Fifty Shades Freed, Insidious: The Last Key, Deep Blue Sea 2 and more.

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ISSUE 163 May ’18

ISSUE 163 May ’18

MUSIC

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THESHAPEOFWATER • FIFTY SHADES FREED

DMA’S • PARKWAYDRIVE • COURTNEYBARNETT

STATEOFDECAY2 • TENNISWORLD TOUR • DONKEYKONG hot

STATEOFDECAY2 • TENNISWORLD TOUR • DONKEYKONG hot

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50-51 DETROIT

8 NEWS

David Cage is back with Detroit: Become Human . 52-53 TENNIS WORLD TOUR Another current-gen tennis game? Take Tennis World Tour for a spin. 54-56 STATE OF DECAY 2 We went hands-on with the new game from Undead Labs in Sydney. 58 DONKEY KONG Where did Donkey Kong start out? 60-62 tech Next Level Racing Wheel Stand, Netgear Gaming Router, Razer Nommo Chroma, Razer Electra V2 66 out this month Detroit: Become Human, State of Decay 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Tennis World Tour, Dark Souls Remastered, Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition, and more.

Black Panther is coming sooner than you think, and JB celebrate the Crown Jewels of British Entertainment this month. 10-11 EXTRAS The Greatest Showman fun facts; Whatever happened to Mike Myers?; Simon Baker is our local hero; and STACK selects the must-see film and TV for this month. 22 FEMALE FILMMAKERS In the first of a new series, we look at the work and style of the other famous Coppola, Sofia.

3-16 INTERVIEWS + BULLETINS We shoot the breeze with Courtney Barnett, DMA’S, Kasey Chambers, Leon Bridges, Parkway Drive and more, plus look into the remarkable posthumous album from Indigenous Australian icon Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. 18-19 Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino , we reminisce on what made each of Arctic Monkeys’ previous five albums special. 20-26 ALBUM REVIEWS Missy Higgins, Courtney Barnett, Middle Kids, William Crighton, West Thebarton, Behemoth, Simian Mobile Disco, Anne-Marie, Laura Jean, Slowly Slowly, and many more. 28 TWO’S COMPANY Paul Jones delivers the first of a two-part series investigating the 20 best double albums of all time. ARCTIC MONKEYS With the arrival of

24-25 BOB J

The Actor and the Mob: George Raft – From Hell’s Kitchen to Hollywood, Part 2. It’s a cliffhanger!

QUIZ, & COMPETITIONS on page 67

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EXTRAS NEWS

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black panther incoming Own your own piece ofWakanda Forever – the Marvel blockbuster releases on DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K UHD on May 30.

T 'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is the Black Panther – protector of Wakanda and its people. When his father T'Chaka is killed, T'Challa must take on the role of king. With his mother and his sister by his side, not to mention the formidable Dora, led by Okoye

at the box-office following its release in February, and it will soon be yours to own, with the home entertainment release confirmed for May 30. Blu-ray bonus features are many and include a Director's Commentary; From Page to Screen – a roundtable discussion that delves into the making of the film; Crowning of a New King, exploring the world of Black Panther in all its colour and complexity; The Warriors Within – get to knowWakanda’s women and the actors who portray them; The Hidden Kingdom Revealed –

Wakanda’s diverse people; Wakanda Revealed – exploring the technology; as well as a bunch of bloopers and deleted scenes. You'll also get a sneak peek at Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily in the next film in the MCU, Ant-Man and the Wasp , and a look back at the last ten years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For the collectors out there, JB Hi-Fi will be stocking a Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook, which is likely to sell out quickly, so get your pre-order in ASAP. One of the most culturally-significant movies, that just happens to be a kick-ass superhero adventure, is less than a month away. Wakanda Forever!

(Danai Gurira), it seems Wakanda is under a fruitful leadership. However, when an old foe returns and a new challenger arrives to take the throne away from T'Challa, loyalties will be tested. Black Panther was an resounding success

CROWN JEWELS OF BRITISH ENTERTAINMENT With the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle inciting royal mania this month, what better time to immerse yourself in the best of British on DVD and Blu-ray from JB Hi-Fi.

B ritain has given the world fromThe Beatles and William Shakespeare to Michael Caine and Monty Python. To coincide with the royal nuptials this month, JB Hi-Fi have curated a selection of quality Brit flicks and TV series fit for a king and queen. The monarchy is well represented with the must-see Golden Globe and Emmy award- winning series The Crown , along with the Oscar-winning The King's Speech . And for the diehard royalist there's Diana: In Her OwnWords , a feature-length documentary that tells the story of the late People's Princess from Diana's perspective. If English history is your thing, many icons of entertainment,

set. And if you want to travel even further back in time, Britannia: Season 1 begins in 43AD as the Roman Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia. The Crown Jewels of British Entertainment also encompasses some popular Brit classics, like Monty Python and the Holy Grail , Love Actually , the original The Italian Job (1969), Bridget Jones's Diary , Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels , and of course the thoroughly British Paddington and its highly acclaimed sequel. There's even more brilliance from Blighty on offer, so be sure to check out the complete range in the Crown Jewels of British Entertainment at JB Hi-Fi stores until 3rd June 2018.

Downton Abbey for a sprawling saga that spans the idyllic pre-war era through the storms of The Great War and beyond to the roaring 1920s – all six seasons are available in The Gold Collection box

Churchill , Darkest Hour and Dunkirk comprise a thematically linked trilogy on the events and politics that shaped Britain's involvement in World War II. Or join the Crawley family at

NEW TO DVD MAY 9 FROM

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COMPLETE SEASON FIVE

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THE GREATEST SHOWMAN FUN FACTS

In real life, only P.T. Barnum and TomThumb met Queen Victoria – the performers did not.

Director Michael Gracey’s pitch

P.T. Barnum dabbled in several industries before "show business", including the lottery business.

encompassed 45 mins of spirited storytelling, intricate concept art and songs.

Zendaya did all of her own trapeze stunts in the film.

According to Hugh Jackman, the film's long development process was, in part, due to studios unwilling to take a risk on an original musical.

This is Zac Efron's fifth musical along with the High School Musical trilogy and Hairspray.

Hugh Jackman read some three dozen books on P.T. Barnum to prepare for the title role.

Whatever happened to... MIKE MYERS

Russo Brothers @Russo_Brothers

#ThanosDemandsYourSilence

Remember that funny guy who played Austin Powers? YEAH, BABY! Although now it's more a case of, "Where, baby?" The voice of Shrek and superstar of comedy hits like Wayne's World (1992), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), and of course the trilogy starring the aforementioned International Man of Mystery (1997–2002), was at the top of his game for over a decade before the lamentable The Cat in the Hat (2003) and The Love Guru (2008) saw him quickly wear out his welcome. Following this fall from favour, Myers retreated from the comedy spotlight, appearing in a supporting role in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009) and as himself in the documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (2013), which he also directed. More recently he starred as the fictional host of The Gong Show (2017) – a revamp of the popular '70s celebrity game show – as well as making a cameo of sorts in Baby Driver (as a mask meant to be Halloween 's Michael Myers). He's also written a non-fiction book on his home country, Canada. Myers hasn't completely abandoned the movies but looks to be choosing more serious projects nowadays. His role as co-owner of the notorious NewYork disco in 54 (1998) proved he could play it straight, and he'll next be seen in the upcoming Margot Robbie thriller Terminal , as well as the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody .

• Austin Powers and its two sequels are available on DVD & Blu-ray

"Guillermo loves to spend time with actors beforehand. He loves to rehearse, he loves to meet with you individually, he loves to get the cast together and read scenes. He encourages you to do a backstory for your character, he also does one for you, which he gives to you. He says, 'You can use this or not, I don't care, but this is what I was thinking when I was envisioning the character.' For him, it's really important that people be prepared."

Michael Shannon on working with Guillermo del Toro on The Shape of Water

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NEWS EXTRAS

STACK SELECTS Must-see film andTV this month

SIMON BAKER

B orn in Launceston, Tasmania, Simon Baker has become a familiar face on our TV screens from his roles in The Guardian (2001- 2004) and The Mentalist (2008-2015). Back when he was known as Simon Baker Denny, the handsome actor won

THE SHAPE OF WATER Guillermo del Toro restores a sense of magic and wonder to the movies.

by a former pro surfer named Sando (Baker). "It had an immediately profound effect on me," Baker says of first reading Winton's novel. "Having grown up in a coastal town in Australia, and knowing the characters in the book, I was drawn in." Having directed episodes of The

viewers' hearts as Constable Sam on Aussie soap E Street (1993), winning the Logie for Best NewTalent – and

Mentalist and The Guardian , Baker felt comfortable in his dual role of director and actor. "It's not easy and wouldn't work for many roles; in this case, Sando is a character that I know, and have known for some time. I imagine that gave

Tim [Winton] was incredibly gracious and supportive. He let me play with the material in my own way

like many of our other talented exports, he also gained experience on Home and Away. Relocating to

PHANTOM THREAD A superb gothic melodrama and Daniel Day-Lewis's acting swan song.

Hollywood, Baker made his movie debut in L.A. Confidential (1997) and followed with steady work in films like George Romero's Land of the Dead (2005), The Ring Two (2005) and The Devil Wears Prada (2006). After seven seasons of The Mentalist , Baker is back on the big screen this month, starring in, co-writing and directing an adaptation of TimWinton's best-selling novel Breath . A soulful coming-of-age tale set in coastal WA during the 1970s, the story follows two teenaged boys who are mentored

me some kind of advantage. “Tim was incredibly gracious

and supportive. He let me play with the material in my own way. I needed to know that he would be okay with that. He said something to me that was very simple but profound: ‘When I finish writing a book, it’s no longer mine, it belongs to whomever reads it’. That statement is something that will always stick with me.”

THREE BILLBOARDS... Frances McDormand is a force of nature in this unpredictable pressure cooker tale.

Breath is in cinemas on May 3 and is reviewed on page 18.

I, TONYA A blackly comic biopic that doesn’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

MR. ROBOT: SEASON 3 This return to form for the tech-savvy series will melt your brain all over again.

Simon Baker in Breath

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STACK ROVING REPORTER

"It helps that there isn't anywhere else around here that has the range JB stocks," explains Movie Coordinator Corey Davenport. "The closet JB store to us is in Pakenham, which is probably about an hour away. There are also quite a few travelling customers that come to us on their way to and from Melbourne. "We're not a Home store, we don't have small appliances here either, it's

just a JB for entertainment – movies, music and games." Approaching his seventh anniversary working for JB, Corey says that being a DVD Coordinator can sometimes be an occupational hazard for a movie buff and collector of discs. "I've got three bookshelves full at home: DVDs, Blu-rays, and TV series." Corey counts blockbusters like Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games amongst his personal favourites and admits that when it comes to TV shows, he'll watch anything. "I get recommendations from customers to watch things, and I do." As to the viewing preferences of Traralgon residents, Corey says the store moves a lot of New Release as well as back catalogue TV series, across all genres. "It's pretty good. Netflix is trying to take over, but we're still chugging along really well at this store. " Thor Ragnarok has gone off, Star Wars: The Last Jedi has done really well, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is doing awesomely! 4K is starting to move really well now, too. The Greatest Showman is also going to be popular, especially being released for Mother's Day. "And I've had people asking for Deadpool 2 for the last six months," he adds with a laugh.

DVD BEST- SELLERS for APRIL 2018

SHOP TALK

L ocated east of Melbourne in Victoria's Gippsland region, JB Hi-Fi's Traralgon store has something of a monopoly on the home entertainment requirements of the local population.

1 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 2 Star Wars: The Last Jedi 3 Coco 4 Justice League 5 Pitch Perfect 3 6 Paddington 2 7 Darkest Hour 8 Downsizing 9 Murder on the Orient Express (2017) 10 Call Me by Your Name

Corey Davenport at JB Traralgon, Victoria

PRE-ORDER OFFERS JB's

THE SHAPE OF WATER RELEASE DATE: MAY 9, 2018

MOLLY'S GAME RELEASE DATE: MAY 23, 2018

SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order for your chance to win 1 of 50 The Shape of Water hardcover books - while stocks last. Offer ends 11: 59pm AEST 6/5/18*

SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order now and enter online for a chance to win a poker set including poker chips and

cards from the film. Offer ends 20/5/18*

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CINEMA FEATURE

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Our esteemed Gill Pringle was on the ground in LA the day before the world premiere of Avengers: InfinityWar , sharing a room with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

O ver ten years of unparalleled movie-making success, Marvel Studios has released 18 films, collectively grossing more than US$13 billion. Marking a decade of prosperity which began with the 2008 release of Iron Man , Marvel can afford to be frivolous on the eve of the release of its 19th film, the much- anticipated Avengers: Infinity War ; the third

There’s really no option but to go along for the ride, as Goldblum’s lottery device pops out category prompts such as, “If you are green…” – hello Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo – or “If you wear a cape…” or “If you are fromWakanda…” You get the drift. The Wakanda question is neatly handballed to Letita Wright, Black Panther ’s Shuri, who tells us, “I

installment in the Avengers franchise. Instead of complex explanations of comic-book lore, which is often the case in superhero publicity, Marvel has assembled its shiniest stars and set them up before the media in a game-show contest setting with Jeff Goldblum as its MC. STACK gamely took part in the experiment, featuring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Benedict

wish I had a Shuri on TV or in the movies that I could see when I was growing up, and then maybe I would have stayed in my maths classes a bit longer. But hopefully Shuri has allowed young kids to feel that learning is cool and how young women can contribute to the world with science, math,

The comic books are always a North Star for us as we lead these giant productions

technology and engineering; that it’s not just a thing for the guys, that it’s also for women to contribute positively.” Australia’s beloved caped god Chris Hemsworth put down his hammer to talk about his first day on this super-charged set: “Being surrounded by Guardians felt like the first day at school for me because they all knew each other, and I didn’t, so I felt like the new kid. But it was good to have a whole new dynamic with new people

Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Pom Klementieff, David Bautista, Sebastian Stan and Josh Brolin – all of whom looked about as perplexed as the gathered media.

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CINEMA

FEATURE

wattage to form a small galaxy; an estimated 125 household names, bringing together all of Marvel’s iconic characters in one film, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/ Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Don Cheadle as Colonel James Rhodes/War Machine, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Paul Bettany as Vision, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Anthony Mackie as SamWilson/Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Benedict Wong as Wong, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Gwyneth

Ant-Man and theWasp

The Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline is divided into a number of phases – of which we are currently in the third. This phase kicked off with Captain America: Civil War , and following Avengers: Infinity War there are still three films to come. Next up is Ant- Man and the Wasp , which will reunite Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily as the pint-sized heroes of the title on July 5. Following that, we’ll get to see Brie Larson star as Captain Marvel in 2019, with the film reportedly set in the ‘90s. Moreover, Infinity War is only the first of a two-part Avengers adventure, and Part 2 also drops in 2019. As to the ultimate fate of some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, we can see the MCU looking a little different going forward...

Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Benicio Del Toro as The Collector, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord - united against one common enemy, Josh Brolin’s Thanos. Phew! Asked about his new “Iron Spider” suit, Tom Holland – known for previous plot spoiling bombs – looks bashful.

“I’m actually under strict instructions to keep my mouth shut… I don’t actually get to wear the Iron Spider suit because it’s too amazing to exist in real life, so I joined the wonderful Mark Ruffalo in a man-cancelling costume and stood amongst these gods wearing pajamas – which wasn’t quite as heroic as I would like.” Given Avatar director James Cameron’s recent commentary on Avengers fatigue and a desire to break away from what he perceives as overblown macho comic book stories, Ruffalo is left holding the mic for the day’s hot potato. “Umm, I’ve thought about that quite a bit and, you know, sour grapes,” he says amid hoots of laughter and applause. Tom Hiddleston, always the outsider as Loki, wryly comments, “I’m astonished that I’m still here, as you may be too. Loki has fallen through a wormhole and faked his own death and I honestly never expected to be playing this part for so long. The writers have been so great, creating these characters with such precision and what happens in the space between those characters is always unique and you’re guaranteed to see that in this film.”

Captain Marvel

to interact with, so I was pretty damn excited.” In describing Marvel’s inspiration behind the many-tentacled story that is Infinity War , studio head Kevin Feige tells us, “It all just comes down to the comics, ripping out the pages and putting them on walls and being inspired. In every single movie that we‘ve made, up to and especially with Infinity War , there are direct images and storylines. Rarely, but sometimes, there are actual lines of dialogue that comes off the pages. The comic books are always a North Star for us as we lead these giant productions.” For Zoe Saldana and Karen Gillan, the embittered sisters who come together to fight the threat of their war-mongering father Thanos, this story has particular resonance. “We wouldn’t be what we are in the Marvel universe if it wasn’t for the emotional beats of these stories,” suggests Saldana. “Karen and I have so much fun with the relationship these daughters have with their father because they finally get an opportunity to address what it was like to have a dad who is so complicated.” Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War boasts enough star-

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Avengers: Infinity War

is in cinemas now

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CINEMA FEATURE

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The best lines from the trailers: Cable: “I was born into war. Bred into it. People think they understand pain, but they have no concept of it. What’s the most pain you’ve ever felt? Maybe the kind that leaves you more machine than man.” Deadpool: [On the mutants] “Tough, morally flexible, and young enough to carry their own franchise for 10-12 years.” Deadpool: “Sorry I’m late; I was rounding up all the gluten in the world and launching it into space where it can’t hurt us ever again.” Deadpool: “Regeneration powers activate!” Cable: “Your time’s up, you dumb f–k.” Deadpool: “Well, that’s just lazy writing.”

We’re only weeks away from the Deadpool sequel and not really any the wiser.What does Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth have in store for us this time? Words Alesha Kolbe

The official synopsis reads: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfil his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavour – finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover. If you like the sound of that, here’s what you can expect from the players in this weird and wonderful game...

So far known only as ‘The Kid’, Julian Dennison’s involvement in the upcoming film is a bit of a mystery. Referred to as ‘Russell’ in one of the TV spots, many have speculated that he is actually Russell ‘Rusty’ Collins, AKA the mutant Firefist. Time will tell. Vanessa/Copycat played by Morena Baccarin Vanessa – Wade’s

damsel in distress – was rescued at the last minute by the man in red himself

in the first film. Rumour has it that she’s going to dive a little further into her Copycat persona of a mutant shapeshifter. We’ll have to wait for the movie to know for sure.

Wade Wilson/Deadpool played by Ryan Reynolds Diagnosed with cancer of, well, almost everything, Wade Wilson undergoes a special

• Deadpool 2 is in cinemas on May 16

process that leaves him scarred but nigh indestructible. In Deadpool 2 , he’s still the Merc with a Mouth, and now he’s tasked with protecting ‘The Kid’ from Cable. Nathan Summers/Cable played by Josh Brolin Josh Brolin has his work cut out for him as two comic book villains this season (also starring as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War ). In Deadpool 2 he plays Cable, a time-travelling Terminator wannabe who’s come back in time to kill The Kid. ‘The Kid’/Russell Collins/Firefist played by Julian Dennison

Neena Thurman/Domino played by Zazie Beetz

– offering sarcastic advice and staying well away from the danger zone. Dopinder – played by Karan Soni A superhero is nothing

Domino is a member of the mutant team X-Force – Deadpool 2 ’s own version of the X-Men. She is able to affect probability, and has an interesting past with Cable. Weasel played by T.J. Miller Wade’s wisecracking buddy is back and will most

without a sidekick, and as such, DP would be nowhere without his trusty driver Dopinder. The pair have been

through thick and thin together and chances are Deadpool’s gonna need a getaway driver at some point in the sequel.

likely have a very similar role to that of the first film

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RAMPAGE

RELEASED: Apr 12 DIRECTOR: Brad Peyton CAST: Dwayne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Naomie Harris RATING: M If Kong: Skull Island , Jurassic World , San Andreas , Planet of the Apes and Pacific Rim were chucked in a blender, the resulting concoction would resemble Rampage . Let’s get the caveat out of the way first: Rampage is based on a 1986 video arcade game. With that in mind you’ll already know to keep expectations low. Kids, however, will love it – this is a movie where Dwayne Johnson bumps fists with a Kong-sized albino gorilla named George. When samples of a gene- editing technology plummet to Earth from a doomed space station, they mutate three terrestrial life forms, resulting in Johnson’s primate pal, a 30-foot wolf, and an oversized alligator converging on Chicago to do what it says in the title. The military are helpless in the face of this monstrous threat, so it’s up to Johnson and geneticist Naomie Harris to find an antidote to the mutagen, stop the rampage, and save what's left of the city. The aim of the video game was to trash city buildings in order to advance to the next level, and that’s exactly what happens in the film, with the oversized creatures scaling and toppling skyscrapers while Johnson dodges falling rubble. You can’t fault it for being unfaithful to the source. But with cities being levelled on an almost monthly basis in whatever superhero/disaster movie is currently playing, Rampage ‘s spectacular set pieces come off as generic and interchangeable rather than awe-inspiring. You might think you’ve walked into a cinema screening Pacific Rim: Uprising by mistake. Scott Hocking There would have been high fives all round in the Blumhouse production office when Truth or Dare was pitched. The prolific horror brand has a good strike rate with clever concepts – Get Out , Happy Death Day – and there’s huge potential to do something twisted with the party game designed to reveal deep dark secrets and inspire nudie runs. But the truth is, it hasn’t been realised in this tepid offering that pilfers from better genre films like It Follows and Final Destination . A trip to Mexico turns into a neverending nightmare for a group of spring breakers after they’re lured to a dilapidated church by a mysterious ring-in to play the titular game, which continues to exert its diabolical influence once they return to college. This demonic version manifests its challenge through smartphone texts, graffiti, or possessed strangers sporting a Joker-like rictus. The rules are simple: play by them, or die. Don’t play and you still die. What might have looked good on paper comes across as arbitrary and ridiculous on screen. The deadly truths and dares that dispatch the cast are as dull as the device-obsessed characters, who are so thinly sketched and stupid, they actually behave like they’re in a movie. Moreover, for a horror film, there’s very little in the way of scares or creative deaths, and an exposition-heavy third act only serves to make the plot more convoluted than it needs to be. If you’re looking for another fun, M-rated horror flick with an ’80s vibe like Happy Death Day , this isn’t it. Scott Hocking TRUTH OR DARE RELEASED: Apr 12 DIRECTOR: Jeff Wadlow CAST: Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane, Landon Liboiron RATING: M

RELEASED: May 3 DIRECTOR: Simon Baker CAST: Simon Baker, Samson Coulter, Ben Spence, Richard Roxburgh RATING: M

BREATH

Life is swell in TimWinton's coming-of-age tale.

M ateship and coming-of-age are prevalent themes in Australian cinema, and eloquently realised in Simon Baker's assured adaptation of Tim Winton's 2008 Miles Franklin Award-winning novel, Breath . It's an impressive directorial debut for Baker, who also co-wrote the screenplay and plays the character that will have a profound impact on the story's teenaged protagonists. Set in a remote location on the Western Australian coast during the '70s, Breath (like Puberty Blues , to a degree) interweaves surfing, sexual awakening, and the propensity for risk that comes with adolescence. Best mates Bruce Pike (Samson Coulter) and Ivan Loon (Ben Spence) – AKA Pikelet and Loonie – tear around the forested coastline on their bikes, doing what reckless 14-year-old boys do. Stopping to watch a group of surfers, Pikelet has an epiphany – "Never had I seen something

voiceover (by Winton). Before long the boys are catching waves on cheap styrofoam boards before upgrading to fibreglass and encountering surfer dude Sando (Baker) in his Kombi ute, who suggests they leave their boards at his place. After discovering a box of surfing magazines revealing Sando to be a former world pro, they accept his mentorship and are pushed to take risks surfing dangerous breaks and possible shark-infested waters. The daredevil Loonie embraces the dangers, while the more introspective Pikelet faces a dilemma: surrender to the adrenaline rush with impunity, or make his own choices? Newcomers Coulter and Spence are both terrific and natural, with the ability to surf, act, and carry the film, while Baker plays the enigmatic Sando with the laid back air and twinkle in the eye of a man given the opportunity to relive his youth. Equally good is Elizabeth Debicki as Sando's aloof wife, Eva, whose pivotal role in the film's second half adds a risque element (tastefully handled) that's in sync with the film's title. Leisurely told in a minimalist style, Breath is every bit as lyrical as Winton's prose and evocatively captures a sense of place that's quintessentially Australian. It's also a sensory experience; you can almost smell the sea and taste the salt. And while there is the inevitable allusion to the spiritual nature of surfing, here it's analogous to the emotional waves that we ride as teenagers. Scott Hocking

RATING KEY: Wow! Good Not bad Meh Woof!

so beautiful, pointless and elegant, as if dancing on water was the best and bravest thing a man could do," his adult self recalls in

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ISLE OF DOGS RELEASED: Apr 12 DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson CAST: Voiced by Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Bill Murray RATING: PG

ALSO SCREENING IN MAY

Wes Anderson's latest has a lot of love to give.

Dogs are known for their unwavering loyalty, but as Wes Anderson’s second animated tale illustrates, their owners have been known to echo that devotion. Isle of Dogs is the tale of a boy named Atari, his dog Spots, and a whole lot of politics – ancient cat and dog politics. But it’s set in the near future. A dog flu virus has broken out in Japan’s Megasaki City, and even though a cure is close to being finalised, its cat-leaning mayor signs a decree that banishes all dogs to the city’s tip, Trash Island. The first victim? His orphaned nephew Atari’s trusty companion. The boy isn’t going to stand for this, however, so he eventually pilfers a plane and flies off for Trash Island, aiming

to rescue his beloved Spots. Atari ends up crash landing, but is saved by a quintet of dogs in Rex, King, Duke, Boss and Chief. The search for Spots commences, while politics continue to play out in Megasaki City. Heroes come in many forms… Stop-motion animated with character oozing from every frame, and brimming with the usual incredible star-laden Wes Anderson kind of cast providing voices, Isle of Dogs really possesses a unique charm. In much the same way that classic Peanuts cartoons had the kids speaking English while all adults spoke in trombone wah-wahs, here humans talk in un-subtitled Japanese, while the dogs speak English. It’s no cause for confusion to non-Japanese speakers though, as the important stuff is either explained via voiceover or is obvious from tone or expression. Text is represented in both languages, to striking effect. From deft animated touches such as the delightful, limb-flailing clouds of dust representing scuffles, right through to its charismatic, off-kilter story that ultimately champions the downtrodden – with many a pleasing stop in between – Isle of Dogs has a lot of love to give. Maybe that’s why the title is a homophone – “I love dogs”? Amy Flower is a dream come true for fans of modern horror films. There is rarely a moment of respite from the sustained tension, as characters conduct their daily routines at an agonisingly slow pace to avoid treading on creaky floorboards, knocking over a glass, or stepping on fallen leaves. John Krasinski masterfully directs these moments – any time a threat to the stillness of the family’s farmyard home is presented, it brings with it an immediate sense of dread at the inevitable horror to come. Perhaps the film’s biggest strength is that it doesn’t succumb to the cliché of making a horror movie first and telling a story second. The golden rule of storytelling is ‘show, don’t tell’ and the film’s premise lays the perfect foundation to capitalise on this rule. The set design of the farmyard and the family’s house reveals more about these people than any needless exposition; namely who they were before the world ended, and how they have so far survived. A Quiet Place will keep you on edge right until the final credits roll, and the finale is well worth the heart palpitations endured along the way. Gage Pendergast

The second spin-off film reveals the origins of our favourite smuggler and scoundrel, Han Solo (played by Alden Ehrenreich), who, through a series of daring escapades within a dangerous criminal underworld, meets young Chewie and Lando. And surely we'll see the Falcon make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs. No waiting until December for the next Star Wars film – Solo opens on May 25. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

RELEASED: Apr 5 DIRECTOR: John Krasinski CAST: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds RATING: M A QUIET PLACE

After being dumped by her hubby, Melissa McCarthy heads back to college – the same one where her daughter is enrolled – to embrace freedom and frat life. School's in on May 10. LIFE OF THE PARTY

Set in a world where humanity has been all but decimated by blind, gangly, ferocious creatures (reminiscent of Cloverfield ’s main antagonist, but on a far smaller scale), A Quiet Place centres on the Abbot family’s desperate attempts to live a lifestyle completely devoid of sound, so as to avoid alerting the extremely audio-sensitive beasts – a matter that is sure to become even more difficult with the imminent arrival of the pregnant mother’s (Emily Blunt) newest addition to the family. A Quiet Place ’s foundation as a genre film that highlights silence as its most vital element If they hear you, they hunt you.

A paralysed technophobe (Logan Marshall- Green) receives an experimental computer implant with a mind of its own in this sci-fi thriller from Leigh Whannell. Opens May 31. UPGRADE

A pharmaceutical exec (David Oyelowo) travelling to Mexico winds up at the mercy of his dodgy business colleagues back home, local drug lords, and a black-ops mercenary. Opens May 31 . GRINGO

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MA 15+ Not suitable for people under 15.

DenofThieves © 2017STXProductions, LLC, ArtworkandSupplementaryMaterials© 2018STX Financing, LLC.AllRightsReserved.

Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian

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M Recommended for mature audiences

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DVD & BD FEATURE

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Female Filmmakers

FILMOGRAPHY

1999 THE VIRGIN SUICIDES

SOFIA COPPOLA

2003 LOST IN TRANSLATION

2006 MARIE ANTOINETTE

In the first of a new series celebrating the work of female directors, we turn the spotlight on the other famous Coppola, Sofia, whose blend of dreamlike aesthetic and indie cool has made her a powerful and distinct voice in a male-dominated arena. M ovies are part of the Coppola family’s DNA, and nepotism

an acting career she’d never really desired, leading Sofia to find her true calling behind the camera. Having directed six features to date, Sofia Coppola has developed a signature style and aesthetic that’s best described as dreamlike. Soft lighting and contemporary soundtracks complement stories of melancholic outsiders, with some deadpan levity to lighten the tone. Her assured debut feature, The Virgin Suicides (1999), and her most recent film, The Beguiled (2017), are suffused with an ethereal mood. The female voice speaks loudly in Coppola’s films. In The

Beguiled it’s the residents of a Southern girls school, who take control of a situation involving a wounded Civil War soldier; and in her gaudy revisionist take on France’s infamous queen, Marie Antoinette (2006), the lonely monarch struggles to live up to the demands placed upon her. While female protagonists feature prominently, she is also drawn to the male perspective, as with Lost in Translation (2003) – a terrific vehicle for the great Bill Murray – and her fourth film, Somewhere (2010), starring Stephen Dorff. Indeed, Lost in Translation put Coppola on Hollywood’s radar with an Oscar for Original Screenplay and nominations for Best Picture and Director. With a father who is Hollywood royalty, it’s not surprising celebrity culture is another recurring theme in Coppola’s films; it can be a burden inviting loneliness and ennui ( Somewhere ), or alluring to a group of teens that burgle the homes of the rich and famous ( The Bling Ring , 2013). Sofia Coppola’s impressive and diverse body of work couldn’t be further removed from the masculine worlds of her father’s

2010 SOMEWHERE

notwithstanding, Sofia Coppola has followed the lead of famous father Francis Ford and established herself as an acclaimed filmmaker with a distinctive signature. Sofia made her movie debut before she turned one, as the baby boy who is christened in The Godfather . Following bit parts in several of her father’s films, she landed the more substantial role of Mary Corleone in The Godfather: Part III (after Winona Ryder dropped out). However, her hammy performance put an end to

2013 THE BLING RING

2017 THE BEGUILED

There are so many more female directors than when I started.That's encouraging. Maybe it's because it's such an all-encompassing job, and if you have a family, it's harder to do. But there are female surgeons. And there are plenty of women working in the film business. – Sofia Coppola

films like Apocalypse Now , Rumble Fish and The Outsiders , and she consistently surprises with whatever project she chooses to do next. “I feel like when I finish one, the next one is always a reaction to the one before,” she has said. “ I try to just make what I want to make or what I would want to see. I try not to think about the audience too much.”

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EXTRAS FEATURE

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The Actor and The Mob

biggest contracted stars, he was eagerly sought by other studios for loan-outs. Awareness of his popularity with millions of movie fans only increased Raft’s arrogance and continual refusal of the movie roles Paramount wanted him to undertake. This finally resulted in Raft demanding a termination of his contract, and a relieved Paramount agreed. Shortly after he signed with Warner Bros.  Studio boss Jack Warner brought Raft to Warner Bros. in 1939 so that he would have another star for his gangster pictures. He too had troublesome contracted stars, such as James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson, who were regularly on suspension for refusing movie roles. Hiring new actors was Warner’s way of reminding his stars and their agents that they were all replaceable. However, what Warner was unaware of was that Raft, too, did not want to make any more gangster movies. Raft had become increasingly embarrassed by recurring reports in the media that he was closely tied with organised crime bosses such as Bugsy Siegel. Everyone knew the reports were true, but Raft thought he could offset them by reforming his onscreen image. Back in 1937, whilst still at Paramount, independent producer Sam Goldwyn had offered Raft the role of “Baby Face” Martin in the movie Dead End . Martin, a psychopathic killer, is on the run from the police and hides out in the New York slums where he was raised. But Raft balked at

George Raft (1901-1980) The Warner Years and the Man who made Bogart Part 2:

F ollowing “Bugsy” Siegel’s arrival in Los Angeles, his old New York friend and now movie star, George Raft, introduced him to all of Hollywood’s motion picture glitterati. Together they became regular attendees at movie parties, race tracks and the top nightclubs. Although Siegel’s background was common knowledge amongst the movie community, the mobster’s handsome features, sartorial elegance and social conduct belied his tough and murderous history. Hollywood was utterly intrigued and totally mesmerised with George Raft’s pal – Mr. Benjamin Siegel.

dominating all forms of gambling in the city including bookmaking, roulette, crap games, and the numbers racket. Indeed, gambling was Siegel’s forte, as he was fond of betting large wads of money on the horses and casino tables. However, what is definitely known during his time in LA is that he nurtured the germ of an idea of building a mob-controlled hotel and casino. This would come to fruition some years later when he opened The Flamingo, on the outskirts of a small town in the Nevada desert named Las Vegas. Hollywood was utterly intrigued and totally mesmerised with George Raft’s pal – Mr. Benjamin Siegel Meanwhile, George Raft’s typecasting battles continued at Paramount, resulting in more than 20 disagreements and almost the same amount of suspensions. Movie stardom, celebrity and money had given him status and a sense of security, although his expensive habits and expansive generosity made it impossible for him to hold on to money for long. As one of Paramount’s

Bugsy Siegel, the mobster who charmed Hollywood

George Raft always portrayed “a magnificent hoodlum” onscreen

certain aspects of Martin’s character and actions when he meets a gang of kids who idolise him. Raft wanted a scene where he tells the youngsters how bad his life is and for them not to grow up like him. Goldwyn, who considered that Raft always portrayed “a magnificent hoodlum” onscreen, pleaded with him to play the part as written. But Raft turned it down. The role of the killer Martin eventually went to Humphrey Bogart, who at the time was a second string Warner Bros. contracted character actor – and Bogart played the part brilliantly. Furthermore, Raft’s refusal of this and other films in the future would be the greatest boon to Bogart’s movie career. Raft’s first movie for his new studio

What Siegel really did in Los Angeles – as a representative of the East Coast Crime Syndicate – is pure speculation, as no-one precisely knew all the details. According to one account he organised a union of movie employees that all the film studios were forced to pay not to strike. Another had him

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